Android Smartphone to be sent into Space

A UK university has developed a satellite that is based around an Android smartphone and they plan to send it into orbit later this month.

The satellite, called STRaND-1 (the Surrey Training, Research and
Nanosatellite Demonstrator), is a 30cm CubeSat weighing 4.3kg and at its heart
is a Google Nexus One smartphone.

As the researchers note, smartphones incorporate several key features that
are integral to a satellite -- such as cameras, radio links, accelerometers and
high performance computer processors -- almost everything except the solar
panels and propulsion.

STRaND-1 will also be the first UK CubeSat to be launched and has been
developed by space engineers and researchers at Surrey with the majority of the
design and developmental work being carried out in their spare time. The build
and test phase of the project has been completed in just three months.

During the first phase of the mission, STRaND-1 will use a number of
experimental 'Apps' to collect data whilst a new high-speed linux-based
CubeSat computer developed by SSC takes care of the satellite. During phase two,
the STRaND-1 team plan to switch the satellite's in-orbit operations to the
smartphone, thereby testing the capabilities of a number of standard smartphone
components for a space environment.

The satellite will be commissioned and operated from the Surrey Space
Centre's ground station at the University of Surrey. The space mission has
been jointly developed by the University of Surrey's Surrey Space Centre (SSC)
and Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL).

Being the first smartphone satellite in orbit is just one of many
'firsts' that STRaND-1 is hoping to achieve. It will also fly innovative new
technologies such as a 'WARP DRiVE' (Water Alcohol Resistojet Propulsion
Deorbit Re-entry Velocity Experiment) and electric Pulsed Plasma Thrusters (PPTs);
both 'firsts' to fly on a nanosatellite. It is also flying a 3D printed part
- believed to be the first to fly in space.

Dr Chris Bridges, SSC's lead engineer on the project, says: "A smartphone
on a satellite like this has never been launched before but our tests have been
pretty thorough, subjecting the phone to oven and freezer temperatures, to a
vacuum and blasting it with radiation.

"It has a good chance of working as it should, but you can never make
true design evolutions or foster innovation without taking a few risks: STRaND
is cool because it allows us to do just that."

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